HARTFORD — Trinity College has completed a $2 million purchase of the former Travelers Education Center on Constitution Plaza, the first step in its plans to expand its campus into downtown Hartford.

"We're excited about the Constitution Plaza purchase becoming official," Mary Jo Keating, secretary of the college and vice president of college relations, said Monday. "This represents a long-term strategic move that aligns with Trinity's goals for urban engagement and collaborative partnerships in Hartford."

Keating said it could be several months before the college finalizes plans for the long-vacant, five-story building at 200 Constitution Plaza. Trinity has just begun the process of evaluating possible uses, she said.

No timetable was disclosed Monday for occupying the building.

In December, after the college placed the winning bid of $2.025 million for the building in an online auction, Trinity President Joanne Berger-Sweeney said some potential uses had been suggested. The uses included graduate studies, performance arts, urban and global studies, studio space and collaborations with other downtown academic institutions.

HARTFORD — Trinity College has committed $2 million to buy the former Travelers Education Center on Constitution Plaza, the latest move by a college to establish a presence downtown.

Trinity was the winning bidder in a three-day online auction that ended Wednesday.

"Having a downtown footprint...

HARTFORD — Trinity College has committed $2 million to buy the former Travelers Education Center on Constitution Plaza, the latest move by a college to establish a presence downtown.

Trinity was the winning bidder in a three-day online auction that ended Wednesday.

"Having a downtown footprint...

(KENNETH R. GOSSELIN)

Trinity has said it considered expanding downtown for some time, but a major push came with the arrival of Berger-Sweeney in July. Trinity's main, 100-acre campus at 300 Summit St. in Hartford is less than 3 miles from Constitution Plaza.

Trinity's decision to return to downtown — the college once occupied land where the state Capitol now stands — follows plans by the University of Connecticut to relocate its regional campus in downtown on the former Hartford Times site in 2017.

Two components that are helping revive many downtowns across the country are "eds and meds," medical facilities and institutions of higher education.

Downtown Hartford got a big boost on the "ed" front this week when Trinity College became the winning bidder for the former Travelers Education Center...

(Editorial)

In recent years, the University of St. Joseph and Capital Community College established a presence downtown, the former opening a school of pharmacy in the Hartford 21 complex.

Both moves come amid the addition of hundreds of apartments and the continued leasing of the Front Street entertainment district. In addition, plans also continue to move forward for a minor league baseball stadium, the centerpiece of the Downtown North project.

"Trinity's decision to establish a downtown presence is just another indication that both corporations and institutions are looking to capitalize on the growing momentum in the [central business district,] said John M. McCormick, executive vice president at CBRE-New England in Hartford, the commercial real estate services firm that marketed the property with auction.com.

Constructed in 1986, the 135,000-square-foot education center includes a 200-seat amphitheater, classrooms, library, conference center and office space. Travelers vacated the building in 2011 after a 25-year lease expired.

The seller, 200 Constitution Plaza REO LLC, took control of the property in 2012 in a foreclosure.